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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. s. MITCHELL. I MECHANISM FOR PROPEIJLING VEHICLES.

No. 271,899. Patented Feb. 6,1883.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. s. MITCHELL.

MECHANISM FOR PROPELLING VEHICLES. No. 271,899. Patented Feb. 6,1883.

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invented new and useful Improvements in in a desirable manner by the mechanism illus-- UNITED STATES PATENT G FICE.

WILLIAM s. MITCHELL, or WASHINGTON, DIsTeIcT OF'GOLUMBIA.

MECHANISM FOR PROPELLING VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,899, dated February 6, 1883.

Application filed December 19,1882. (N0 model.) a

To all whom it may concern: l Be it known that I, WILLIAM SJVIITQIIELL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at I WVashingtomiu the District'of Columbia,have

Mechanism for Propelling Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide simple but efficient mechanism for drivingland and water conveyances or vehicles-such as velocipedes-whereby great speed is attainable with but comparatively little physical exertion on the part of the rider or operator, the power of propulsion being transmitted to the driving wheel or wheels by theaveightof the operator through the instrumentality of multiplying gearing, in such manner that it is only essen tial for the rider or operator to use the feet similar to walking, thus avoiding undue physical exertion and consequent exhaustion or weariness, while at the same time the vehicle can be propelled with great speed without rapid motions on the part of the rider or operator. I

The object of my invention is accomplished trated in the accompanying drawings, in which ,v

Figurel represents a longitudinal sectional view of a land conveyance or vehicle provided with my improved mechanism for propelling the same; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same with portions of the treadle wheels or disks in section to illustrate the mechanism inelosed by them; Fig. 3, a longitudinal broken sectioual view of a water conveyance or vehicle provided with my improved mechanism for propelling the same; Fig. 4, a plan view of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 a modification showing the mechanism arranged to drive a propellingwheel at each side of the water. conveyance or vehicle, instead of a single central propellingwheel, as in Figs. 3. and 4..

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being first had to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, in which 1 indicates the body or platform of a land conveyaneeor vehi'clesueh, for example, as a velocipede; 2 2, the rear supporting and steering wheels,mountedon an'axle,3; and 44, the steering rods or chains, connected with the tiller 5, which is suitably supported at any convenient or suitable point on the body or platform to be within reach and under control of 5 the rider. The front end of the body 1 is slot ted or otherwise constructed to receive and carry the shaft 6, which supports the propel-l ling mechanism, said shaft being suitably secured at its ends to the body, so as to remain in a fixed position. The propelling-wheel 7 is provided with a hub in the form of two pinions,'8 8, one located ateach side of the wheel,

and such hub is arranged to revolve on the stationary shaft. These treadle wheels ordisks I are capable of being independently rotated, and for this purpose each is suitably provided on its exterior with treadles or foot-pedals 15, which projects from the periphery of each wheel in a series, such number being provided as may be found essential for the proper propulsion of the vehicle. The treaolle wheels or disks are preferably dished and flanged at their periphery, the flanges standing toward each other in close proximity to the propellingwheel 7, andsuch flanges carry the internal annular series of cog-teeth 12. It will be seen that this arrangement provides "a complete housing for the multiplying gearing, and prevents contact therewith from the outside, thus avoiding clogging orinterruption of the mechanism from ordinary causes.

A seat for the rider or operator may be placed at any suitable point on the body or platform, but should be so located that the feet will be free to be pressed downward upon the treadles or pedals of one wheel or disk and then upon the others in such manner that the downward pressure can be exerted through exertion and power, in order to'attain the the weight of the rider with but little physical continuously rotated by the direct downward pressure incident to the weight of the rider, thus revolving the gear-wheels 11, which transmitthe propelling power to the pinions 8, forming the hub ofthe propelling-wheel 7, thus imparting a very rapid revolution to the lat ter by a comparatively slow rotation of the treadle wheels or disks.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the weight of the rider provides great power for propelling the vehicle, while but little, if

- mechanism could be provided with such mechanis'm at but one side of the propelling-wheel.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 I have illustrated my invention as applied to a boat or conveyance for traveling on water in such manner as to revolve one or more paddle or other propelling wheels. Figs. 3 and at show the vessel having a single centrally-located propellingwheel, located in a suitable housing, 17, and secured to the shaft 6, the remaining parts of the driving mechanism being in all substantial material respects the same as those described with reference to Figs. l and 2. In Fig. 5-the vessel has a propelling-wheel, 7, at each side, which is rigidly secured to the shaft 6. In this instance it is essential for the shalt to revolve, and it therefore becomes necessary to provide meansfor supporting the arms which carry the gear-wheels 11, so that said arms remain stationary while permitting the shaft to revolve. This I accomplish by providing fixed bearings 16, in which the shaft revolves, such bearings serving as a medium for supporting the treadle wheels or disks,- so that they can be rotated, while the inner ends of the bearings serveto support the arms 9, which carry the gear-wheels 11. In this example, also, of my invention it is only essential to provide a single pinidn, 8; but it must be fixed to the shaft 6, so as to revolve the same when power is applied. Further than this, I provide a single rotating treadle wheel or disk having treadles or pedals 15 at each side, and interiorly provided with but a single annular series of cog-teeth, 12, to engage the single gearwheel 11.

In operation, the treadle wheel or disk is rotated by the weight of the rider or operator on the foot-pedals, as before explained, which, through the annhlar series of cog-teeth, revolve the gear-wheel, the latter transmitting rotary motion to the pinionon the shaft, thus revolving the latterwith the paddle or similar wheels and effecting the propulsion of the vessel in an effective manner.-

The advantages incident to the mechanism described with reference to the first four figures of the drawings are also derived by the employment of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5, and in each instance a propelling mechanism of great power is obtained.

It will of course be understood that the water'conveyance will be provided with suitable steering devices, such as a tiller connected with a rudder; and, further, that a suitable seat for the rider 'or operator may or will be provided, all of which can be suitably arranged to suit the requirements of the user. While I have illustrated my invention as applied to particular styles of land and water conveyances, I do not confine myself thereto, as the vehicle can be of any desired construction and of any modern style of velocipede or carriage for traveling either on the ground or water.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim islar series of cog-teeth engaging the said gear-.

wheel, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a vehiclefor traveling on the land or water, of a shaft supporting a wheel for propelling the vehicle, a pinion attached at each side of the wheel, gearwheels carried by arms attached to the shaft, and two independent treadle wheels or disks rotated by the weight of the rider or operator,

.and each provided interiorly with an annular series of cog-teeth respectively engaging the gear-wheels, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. S. MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. NORRIS, J. A. RUTHERFORD. 

